same $100k income, fresh start from Raleigh

change
Sarasota, FL cityscape

if you left raleigh

Sarasota

fl · metro 262k

photo: Jeffrey Eisen / pexels

a dispatch from

sarasota

FL

27.34°N

82.54°W

Sarasota is the home of the Ringling Brothers Circus (the museum is wild, and yes, there's a vintage clown college history), and Siesta Key's beach is regularly named the best in America for its pure quartz sand. The cultural scene is heavy for a Florida city of its size (theater, opera, art museum). Gulf sunsets here are the brochure shot. The food scene has caught up to the city's wealth and the retirees' time.

metro262k

in our guides

#10

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#10

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#3

of 10

Low-tax cities with great weather

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities to live in Florida

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for foodies

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities to live in your 30s

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$83

pricier each month than Raleigh

Barely costlier than Raleigh. If Sarasota pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
landable, recorded on the sarasota entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$2,121/mo

28% more expensive than Raleigh(vs $1,663/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$375/mo less in state tax than Raleigh

vs 4.5% in Raleigh

03after rent

$6,212/mo

$83 less than Raleigh

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$423k

4% cheaper than Raleigh

vs $440k in Raleigh

05metro size

262k

vs 1.5M in Raleigh

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

249

pleasant days a year, in sarasota.

Raleigh only logs 201 pleasant days.

Lighter on events: Raleigh packs 15.7× more into a month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

59/100

2% higher than Raleigh

vs 58/100 in Raleigh

Closest outdoor draw: Myakka River State Park, 15.9 mi.

·walk score®

96/100

1% lower than Raleigh

vs 97/100 in Raleigh

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

6

85% fewer than Raleigh

vs 39 nonstops in Raleigh

04 · see also

if sarasota appeals, also worth a look:

see also

myrtle beach

more flight options

turn the page

see also

wilmington

$71/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

pensacola

$369/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare sarasota with:

Myrtle BeachWilmingtonPensacola